
/fj? 



Comparison of Increase in Cost of Living 
and Elementary Teachers' Salaries 




With Recommendations and Suggestions 

By order of Teachers' Salary Conference, December, 1909 



EFFICIENCY AND STANDARD OF LIVING 

Efficiency rises and falls in proportion as the standard 
of living rises and falls. This holds good in all lines of 
employment. The best paid are, as a rule, the most 
efficient. 

Applying the above statement to teachers' salaries and 
increased cost of living; that is, to the enormously de- 
creased purchasing power of the dollar, it follows that 
the desired efficiency can be maintained and increased 
only by increasing the salaries as the purchasing power 
of the dollar decreases. 

The accompanying charts are based on the United 
States Government Reports and Proceedings of the 
Board of Education. The first chart graphically shows 
that from 1897 to 1907 inclusive, the cost of living in- 
creased 44 per cent, while salaries of experienced 
elementary teachers in Chicago increased 9 3 /s per cent, 
thus showing that these teachers' salaries in 1907 were 
34 per cent below the normal. 



• 7- 



STATEMENT OF TEACHERS' POSITION ON SALARY QUESTION 

Authorized by Teachers' Salary Conference, January 8, 1910 

"On behalf of the elementary teachers of Chicago, the Teachers' Salary Con- 
ference desires to have the position of the teachers on the question of salary placed 
correctly and fully before the public. The teachers appreciate the difficult position 
in which the Superintendent and the Board of Education are placed because of the 
greatly increased cost of living, which is out of all proportion to the increase in 
the revenue for school purposes. They fully appreciate the efforts to adjust this 
difficult matter fairly. 

"While the increase in the cost of living in 1909 was 43 per cent over the 
cost in 1898, the increase in the maximum salaries paid elementary teachers was 
less than 14 per cent over the maximum paid these teachers in 1898. 

"The teachers know that these figures show a very great lowering of the stand- 
ard of living for teachers, and that the lowering of the standard of living means 
the lowering of the standard of efficiency. 



"The teachers realize that the cost of living has incresaed out of all propor- 
tion to the increase in the means of meeting this cost, and that the public generally, 
as well as the teachers, has suffered the lowering of the standard of living. 

"The teachers appreciate the fact that neither the superintendent of schools 
nor the board of education is responsible for the increase in the cost of living nor 
for the failure of the school revenue to keep pace with the increase in the cost of 
living. 

"The teachers further appreciate the fact that the double burden of increased 
cost of living and unjust tax laws and less efficient enforcement of the same make 
a double burden on the tax payers and the property now adequately taxed. 

"The investigating committee of the Legislature has this week announced 
that millions of dollars' worth of property that should be taxed has escaped tax- 
ation in Chicago. The president of the board of review has recently publicly con- 
demned in the strongest terms the iniquities and stupidity of the assessment of per- 
sonal property in Chicago, and in so doing criticised publicly the law and its enforce- 
ment. 

* * * 

"Deprived of the privilege of exercising responsible citizenship, the teachers 
should not be held responsible for the consequences of the failure of those who have 
the right of ballot. 

"We think it unfair to impose on us the consequences of stupid and antiquated 
tax laws and worse enforcement of them while denying us the privilege of exer- 
cising responsible citizenship in the selecting of officers to make and enforce the 
tax laws ; nevertheless, until those charged with the responsibility are ready to let 
us share it with them directly through the ballot, we stand ready to assist indi- 
rectly in securing an equitable and rational distribution of the burdens of taxation, 
knowing that in this way only will the children, teachers, schools and tax-payers 
alike receive justice. 

* * * 

"We know that the board of education and the superintendent recognize that 
the lowering of the standard of living of teachers means the lowering of the stand- 
ard of efficiency. 

"The Teachers' Salary Conference on behalf of the elementary teachers of Chi- 
cago believes that the teachers appreciate the viewpoint of Superintendent Ella F. 
Young and sympathize fully with her in her difficult and arduous task, and take this 
occasion to express their entire confidence in her sense of justice and fairness and 
her unusual ability to see and comprehend all sides of this difficult question, and 
to meet it in a spirit of sympathetic understanding of the teachers' viewpoint as 
well as of the taxpayers." 

SERENA H. HAYES MARY M. ABRE 

Chairman Secretary Salary Conference 



Year Maximum Salary 

1898 $1,000 

1899 1,000 

1900 1,000 

1901 1,000 

1902 Jan. to July $800 and 825 

1902 July to Dec 900 

1903 1,000 

1904 1,000 

1905 1,000 

1906 1,000 

1907 1,000 

1908 1,025 

1909 1,025 

In 1910 there are scheduled to receive. . 1,025 



No. Paid Maximum 











2,500 







61 

219 

493 

864 

1,000 

3,000 



teachers 



Chart 1 
EXPLAINED 



By resolution of the Board of Education, quoted under chart No. 1, $1,000 
was the maximum for experienced elementary teachers adopted in 1898, and in 
existence, except for one year, (1902) from 1898 till 1908, when it was in- 
creased to $1,025. By special action of the Board of Education each year, pay- 
ment of this maximum was suspended annually — "not sufficient funds" — from 
1898 to 1902, when it was abolished January 29 — same reason, (page 315). 

On July 9, 1902, the Board of Education received $249,554.74 from the 
"Teachers' Tax Suit" (page 20), and in January 1903* re-established the $1,000 
maximum, but prescribed conditions for reaching it ("promotional" examina- 
tions) which resulted, as shown above, in no teacher receiving $1,000 until 1905, 
and then only 61 received it; 219 received it in 1906; while but 493, or less than 
15 per cent of the total number of experienced elementary teachers, had reached 
$1,000 in 1907, nine years after its adoption as the maximum for the total. 

The proceedings of the Board of Education show that in 1907 the salaries 
paid 2,500 experienced elementary teachers, or about 85 per cent of the total 
of such teachers, were still hovering around the level of the maximum paid these 
teachers in 1897, and for many years previously, namely, $800 primary, $825 
grammar; that during the ten years from 1897 to 1907, these salaries averaged 
oniy 6j4 per cent above the level of the 1897 maximum, rising spasmodically 
and periodically to 9% per cent above that level, falling back to it twice, and 
remaining stationary at 6%. per cent above it during four of the last years of 
the ten; while the cost of living rose to 44 per cent above the cost in 1897. 

Hence the maximum paid elementary teachers in 1897 is taken as a basis, 
or 100 per cent, in Chart No. 1 ; and the maximum salaries actually paid 2,500 
experienced elementary teachers from 1897 to 1907 are shown in comparison 
with the 1897 maximum and with the increase in the cost of living during the 
same period, based on the cost in 1897. 

The year 1907 marks the close of the decade, during the latter part of which 
the salaries of the 85 per cent were held down to the standard of 1897 (and of 
previous years) after the 15 per cent had started toward the maximum adopted 
in 1898; and the curious appearance of the figure shown in the year 
1907 on Chart No. 1 represents the closing struggle of the 85 per 
cent to reach a standard of salary adopted in 1898, and hence nine years be- 
hind the cost of living by the time even the 15 per cent had reached it in 1907. 



$1,000 
Maximum 

Adopted 

Suspended 

Abolished 

Restored 



Increase in 
ten years 

Cost of living 
44 per cent 

Salaries 9% 
per cent 



Struggle of the 
85 per cent 



*In January, 1903, the Board increased every year of the elementary teachers' 
schedule $50, thereby giving each of the 5,000 elementary teachers a $50 a year in- 
crease; in a letter to the Mayor on July 7, 1903, in regard to the disposition of the 
money realized from the Teachers' Tax Suit, the President of the Board explained, 
"when this sum was received a large increase was given to the teachers in the way of 
salaries, as far as the sum would go." (Each year of the "promotional" salaries was 
increased $100 in January, 1903.) 



CHART No. 1 



COST OF LIVING AND EXPERIENCED ELEMENTARY TEACHERS' SALARIES 1897 to 1907 



PER CENT 1897 1 1698 1899 1900 1901 



INCREASE OVER 1897 




1903 1904- 190S 1906 190? PERCENT 









































































































































































































































































































1 


^/ 


















/ 


^v 






















/ 
























/ 
























/ 






















/ 


1 
















— 






/ 
























-f 


















1906 
























j 






f 






















/ 
























/- 























1898 1899 1900 1901 



1903 1904 



The light, diagonal line above represents the cost of living from 1897 to 
1907, as shown by the United States Government Reports. 

Based on the cost in 1897, the increase in the cost of living in 1907 was 
44 per cent. 

The heavy zig-zag line below the diagonal represents the maximum 
salaries actually paid to 2500 experienced elementary teachers diiring the 
same period, as shown by the proceedings of the Board of Education. 

Based on the salary paid these teachers in 1897, the increase in salary in 
1907 was 9% per cent. 



COST OF LIVING IN 1907 

INCREASE over 1897 44 % 



$875 and $900, MAXIMUM SALARY PAID IN 1907 
to 2,500 experienced elementary teachers 
(five-sixths of total of such teachers). 

Increase over salary paid in .... 1897 

$800 and $825, MAXIMUM SALARY PAID IN 1897 
to ALL experienced elementary teachers, 
here used as basis or 100%. 



TEN YEARS OF UPS AND DOWNS IN MAXIMUM YEARLY SALARY ACTUALLY PAID 2,500 EXPERIENCED 
ELEMENTARY CHICAGO TEACHERS 1897 TO 1908 



$1,000 MAXIMUM ADOPTED IN 1898 ! 



RESOLVED, That the present salary schedule of the pri- 
mary and grammar grade teachers remain in force, with the 
exception that when the maximum salary * is reached, Seven- 
ty-five ($75) dollars shall be added to their salary the first 
year, and fifty dollars each additional year until said salary 
shall reach $ 1 ,000 per year, this increase to take place Jan- 
uary 1, 1898. — {Resolution adopted by Board of Education 
March 9, 1898, pages 332-33 of Proceedings.) 

(primary) * IS25 (gra 



si 

SI 
SI 
SI 
Si 

Sr 

n; 
si 
si 

y 



Primary Grammar 



January, 


1897... 


. $800 


$825 






1898... 


. 875 


900 


Raised $75 




1899.. . 


. 875 


900 


Increase due withheld 




1900.. . 


. 800 


825 


CUT $75 




1901... 


. 875 


900 


Raised 75 




1902 . . . 


. 800 


825 


CUT 75 




1903... 


. 850 


875 


Raised 50 



Primary Grammar 

January, 1904 $850 $875 Stationary, lower than 1898 

1905 850 875 Stationary, lower than 1898 

1906 850 875 Stationary, lower than 1898 

February, 1907 900 925 Raised $50 

June, 1907 850 875 CUT $50, lower than 1898 

January, 1908' 875 900 Raised $25, back to 1898 



Year Maximum Salary 

1898 $1,000 

1899 1,000 

1900 1,000 

1901 1,000 

1902 Jan. to July $800 and 825 

1902 July to Dec 900 

1903 1,000 

1904 1,000 

1905 1,000 

1906 1,000 

1907 1,000 

1908 1,025 

1909 1,025 

In 1910 there are scheduled to receive. . 1,025 



No. Paid Maximum 











2,500 







61 

219 

493 

864 

1,000 

3,000 



teachers 



Chart 1 
EXPLAINED 



By resolution of the Board of Education, quoted under chart No. 1, $1,000 
was the maximum for experienced elementary teachers adopted in 1898, and in 
existence, except for one year, (1902) from 1898 till 1908, when it was in- 
creased to $1,025. By special action of the Board of Education each year, pay- 
ment of this maximum was suspended annually — "not sufficient funds" — from 
1898 to 1902, when it was abolished January 29 — same reason, (page 315). 

On July 9, 1902, the Board of Education received $249,554.74 from the 
"Teachers' Tax Suit" (page 20), and in January 1903* re-established the $1,000 
maximum, but prescribed conditions for reaching it ("promotional" examina- 
tions) which resulted, as shown above, in no teacher receiving $1,000 until 1905, 
and then only 61 received it ; 219 received it in 1906 ; while but 493, or less than 
15 per cent of the total number of experienced elementary teachers, had reached 
$1,000 in 1907, nine years after its adoption as the maximum for the total. 

The proceedings of the Board of Education show that in 1907 the salaries 
paid 2,500 experienced elementary teachers, or about 85 per cent of the total 
of such teachers, were still hovering around the level of the maximum paid these 
teachers in 1897, and for many years previously, namely, $800 primary, $825 
grammar; that during the ten years from 1897 to 1907, these salaries averaged 
only 6j4 P er cent above the level of the 1897 maximum, rising spasmodically 
and periodically to 9}i per cent above that level, falling back to it twice, and 
remaining stationary at 6% per cent above it during four of the last years of 
the ten ; while the cost of living rose to 44 per cent above the cost in 1897. 

Hence the maximum paid elementary teachers in 1897 is taken as a basis, 
or 100 per cent, in Chart No. 1 ; and the maximum salaries actually paid 2,500 
experienced elementary teachers from 1897 to 1907 are shown in comparison 
with the 1897 maximum and with the increase in the cost of living during the 
same period, based on the cost in 1897. 

The year 1907 marks the close of the decade, during the latter part of which 
the salaries of the 85 per cent were held down to the standard of 1897 (and of 
previous years) after the 15 per cent had started toward the maximum adopted 
in 1898; and the curious appearance of the figure shown in the year 
1907 on Chart No. 1 represents the closing struggle of the 85 per 
cent to reach a standard of salary adopted in 1898, and hence nine years be- 
hind the cost of living by the time even the 15 per cent had reached it in 1907. 



$1,000 
Maximum 

Adopted 

Suspended 

Abolished 

Restored 



Increase in 
ten years 

Cost of living 
44 per cent 

Salaries 9^ 
per cent 



Struggle of the 
85 per cent 



*In January, 1903, the Board increased every year of the elementary teachers' 
schedule $50, thereby giving each of the 5,000 elementary teachers a $50 a year in- 
crease; in a letter to the Mayor on July 7, 1903, in regard to the disposition of the 
money realized from the Teachers' Tax Suit, the President of the Board explained, 
"when this sum was received a large increase was given to the teachers in the way of 
salaries, as far as the sum would go." (Each year of the "promotional" salaries was 
increased $100 in January, 1903.) 



Three different 

salaries paid 

in one year 



Salaries in 1908 
same as in 1898 



"Financial 

conditions " 

and educational 

requirements 



Chart 2 
EXPLAINED 



Reference to Chart I and the summary below it, shows that 2,500 experi- 
enced elementary teachers received three different monthly salaries during the 
calendar year 1907. About 1,500 of these were primary teachers, and were paid 
$85 in January; in February they were raised $5 per month, receiving from 
February to June, both inclusive, $90 per month; in June they were cut $5 per 
month, so from September to December, both inclusive, they went back to $85 
per month, making their total salary for the year 1907, $875 (grammar-grade 
teachers $900), exactly the maximum paid all experienced primary and gram- 
mar-grade teachers in 1898, and 9yi per cent higher than in 1897. 

In January, 1908, the Board added $25 per year to the salaries of all ex- 
perienced elementary teachers, so in January, 1908, these 2,500 teachers had re- 
stored to them $2.50 of the $5.00 cut which they received in June, 1907. This 
"raise" made the salaries these teachers were thus scheduled to receive in 1908, 
$S7.50 per month, or $875 per year (primary) and $900 (grammar), precisely 
the same salaries paid in 1898 and 1907 — 9Y% per cent above the 1897 level. 

But the resolution adopted by the Board of Education providing for the 
1907 cut, after the usual references to "existing financial conditions," specified 
certain requirements, which, when complied with, entitled these 2,500 teachers to 
be put back on the salary they were drawing at the time they were cut, and after 
remaining on this salary for a year, further entitled them to advance automat- 
ically at the rate of $50 per year until the maximum, then $1,000, was reached. 
(See proceedings June 26, 1907, page 1189.) 

By taking study courses in accredited institutions, about 2,000 of the 2,500 
complied with these "requirements," and, accordingly, during 1908, became 
eligible to, and did return to the place in the salary schedule where they had 
been for four months before their cut in June, 1907. 

During 1909, these 2,000 teachers automatically advanced $5 per month to 
the next step in the schedule, and in 1910 are scheduled to receive the last ad- 
vance, when they will reach the maximum paid elementary teachers, $1,025. 

Hence, in Chart No. 2 the maximum for all "experienced" elementary 
teachers adopted in 1898, $1,000, is taken as a basis or 100 per cent, and the 
salaries paid all "experienced" elementary teachers are shown in comparison 
with that maximum during the ten-year struggle to reach it. The salaries which 
should have been paid during the same period, based on the 1898 maximum, 
and the cost of living based on the cost in 1898, are also shown in Chart 2. 



Teachers paid 

less than 

stenographers 



Stenographers 

in Board of 

Education paid 

$1600 in 1908 



Teachers ask 
$1200 in 1910 



The Board of Education in 1898 paid $1,000 and $1,100 to bookkeepers, 
stenographers and clerks in the office of the Board of Education, thus estab- 
lishing for clerks, stenographers and bookkeepers in 1898 a standard of liv- 
ing for the year 1898, represented by what $1,000 would buy in that year, not 
an unreasonable standard of living. 

By adopting $1,000 in 1898 as the maximum for elementary teachers of 
ten or more years' experience, the Board recognized the reasonableness of 
establishing (in its proceedings, not on its payroll) as high a standard of 
living for its elementary teachers of ten years' experience as that actually 
maintained by its clerks, stenographers and bookkeepers — namely, a stand- 
ard represented by what $1,000 would buy in 1898. 

By actually paying $1,600 to $1,800 in 1908 for the same work to the 
same clerks, stenographers and bookkeepers who received $1,000 and $1,100 
in 1898, the Board recognized the need of maintaining the standard of living 
for its stenographers, bookkeepers and clerks established in 1898, by increas- 
ing their salaries as the cost of living increased. 

The maximum salary which the elementary teachers ask the Board of 
Education to pay in 1910 is $1,200, an increase of 20 per cent over $1,000, the 
maximum salary for elementary teachers adopted by the Board of Education 



CHART No. 2 



Cost of Living from 1898 to 1913, Maximum Salary Which Should Be Paid Elementary Teachers 
to Keep Pace with Same and Maximum Salaries Actually Paid from 1898 to 1909 

PERCENT 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 1905 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 PERCENT 


































,^„ 
































-• 






l " 




























V, 


' ^ 




1 ° 


























t * 
































^ 


' 






l™ \ $1,500 MAXIMUM SALARY IN 191.** 


CO'ST OF LIVING IN 19091 .oof. 1A< 






















, 


' 








which should be paid experienced ele- 


INCREASE over cost in .... 1898J 4J 1 * z 




















\ 












mentary teachers to keep pace with cost 


110 




















,' 












140 of living in 1913. 


































130 Increase over $1,000, the maximum 






































































3- 


















































y 


V 














__ 




































































1«.G 


124 


































































120 < < r '$l 2 °0 MAXIMUM SALARY 










\/ 


























































. j_ Increase over maximum adopted in . 1898 20% 


































Increase in cost of living in 1910 over . 2898 45% 










%J 


























































11- 


' 
























_^? 




MAXIMUM 108 
SALARIES PAID 106 


$1,025, MAXIMUM SALARY PAID IN . . . 1909 n 






















.<•• 




to 1,000 experienced elementary teachers 


v/ 


l/ 














/ 


fr 








Increase over maximum adopted in . 1898 £/2 /c '^ > 10 -, 
















&£ 




' '°i 


ZzL* 


J600. 


TEAO 


S=_«ttB5-». 10 t 
















.,* 


Nj> 




fP 




2000 


TEACHE 


" ■ 


!1000 


— XV £ 
















<!• 


































■« — 
















Increase over maximum adopted in . 1898 0% 












,**■ 










3000 




1 950 * < But Not paid) 








- 




iP°, 


^ 




J."° 


/* 


b s 


. 














. 94 $1,000 is here used as basis or 100%. 

>925 »■ — 92 




■jVV 






*v 












2500 


TEM HERS 






88 














>500 


'EACH 


:rs 












1.875 " 88 


(Actual decrease for the 1,300 primary 86 






























teachers who are receiving $975 in 1909) 2'/i % 
































oo 










& 




< 






















BO 7^-, 




U°w 
























82 


IB98 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 


Line No. 1, represents the cost of. living from 1898 to 1907, as shown during same period in order to have kept pace with increased cost of living. from 1904 and thereafter by the same steps indicated for the 61. (These 
by the United States Government Reports. Based on the cost in 1898 The heavy zig-zag line represents the maximum salaries actually paid . steps are not here indicated for these others.) 

the increase in 1907 was 38.54 per cent, or an average annual increase of 25u0 experienced elementary teachers from 1898 to 1909 in comparison with 2000 of the 2500 are scheduled to reach $1,025 during 1910 and between 
4.28 per cent. $1,000 (line 100), the maximum adopted by the Board in 1898, but not paid. 300 and 500 not indicated on this chart are still below drawing $900 (grammar), 

Th» flntt»j nnninn „( i™. m„ i ,„„„ . .t. » «v ■ « ,„„, The light, wavy line, starting upward at 1903, represents the maximum $875 (primary) . 
to 1913 estfmatJo I at one hali 'the 1 ' fn , tVT^JlZ^J^JZ salaries P aid elementary teacher who passed the promotional exami- All the salaries indicated in the body of this chart are the highest paid 
"' "",",*,„ at one - h ( al£ the above annual rate of increase, making the nationSp beginning with the first sixty-one teachers who passed in 1903 and or grammar grade; the primary teachers receive $25 a year less until the 
increase in iyi.5 a per cent over the cost in 1898. began t0 rece i ve the maximum $1,000 in 1905, ending with the total of 1,000 maximum $1,025 is reached, when both get the same. About two out of 

Line No. 2, represents the course teachers' salaries should have taken elementary teachers drawing the maximum $1,025, in 1909, after proceeding three are primary teachers. 



in 1898 (but not paid). The increase in the cost of living in 1910, as shown 
by the above chart, is estimated at 45 per cent over the cost in 1898. 

Based on the maximum salary actually paid elementary teachers of ten Why $1200 
years' experience in 1898 — namely, $875 (primary) and $900 (grammar) — is reasonable 
these teachers should have received $1,200 and $1,240, respectively, in 1907, 
to have kept pace with the increase in the cost of living in 1907, which, as 
shown by the government reports, was 38 per cent over the cost in 1898. 
This shows the reasonableness of asking that a maximum of not less than 
$1,200 be paid primary and grammar grade teachers in 1910. 



"Experienced" elementary teachers, those of seven years' experience and 
over, numbered about 2,500 in 1898, and 3,300 in 1909, or more than 50 per 
cent of the entire teaching force in the Chicago public schools. This is by 
far the largest group on practically the same salary in the entire system. 

It is the relatively great size of this group that accounts for the fluctua- 
tions in the salaries of the group as shown in both charts. There have been 
no such fluctuations and discriminations in the salaries of any other group 
in the school system. 

Even a slight change up or down in the individual salaries of so large a 
number makes a large total increase or decrease in the salary item of the 
budget. For this reason the inducement is greatest to cut the salaries of 
this group of teachers, and it is more difficult, for the same reason, to secure 
increases in the salaries of this group in proportion to the increased cost of 
living, than in the smaller groups.* 

When the pressure on the Board's finances for incidentals, and demands 
other than salaries, becomes irresistible, the solution to the difficulty that 
presents itself is to withhold a scheduled increase from this great group of 
teachers, or to cut, or to do both. 

In the last ten years the 2,500 teachers of this group have had their 
salaries cut three times, two of these cuts occurring in the middle of the 
school year; scheduled increases have been withheld for four successive 
years ; their schedules, and theirs only, have been abolished twice and lower 
ones substituted (January, 1902, and July, 1907), in all the equivalent of 
seven reductions ; and in January, 1908, 2,500 of these "experienced" ele- 
mentary teachers received the same salary that they received in January, 
1898, though, in 1908, the cost of living had increased more than 40 per cent 
over the cost in 1898. (See chart No. 2.) 

Practically every extension that has been made in the public school sys- 
tem in Chicago during the last ten years has been secured at the expense of 
the standard of living of the teachers ; and those most affected are the "ex- 
perienced" elementary teachers, who form the most permanent part of the 
teaching force and, to a large extent, represent that part of the teaching force 
which makes teaching a life profession ; yet the above is the salary history 
of this group of 2,500 "experienced" elementary teachers during the "pros- 
perity" decade from 1899 to 1909, showing at its close the highest prices of 
living since the United States government began compiling reports on the 
cost of living. 

The difficulty lies in the failure on the part of the public to recog- 
nize the relation between a teacher's efficiency and the maintenance of her 
standard of living, which is measured by the relation between the salary and 
the cost of living. When this recognition comes, expansions of the school system 
will be met by corresponding expansions of the school revenue. 



Large number 
of experienced 
teachers 



Small cut — 
Large returns 



Ten years of 
vicissitudes 



Extensions of 
school system 
at expense of 
teachers 



Efficiency 
impaired 



*In January, 1908, the Board of Education increased the first year salary from 
$550 to $650, an increase of 30 per cent over the first year salary paid in 1898. But the 
average number of teachers on first year's salary for six years has been less than 150. 



Loss to the 
children 



Meanwhile, however urgent the demands on the financial resources for exten- 
sions, incidentals and equipment, when these needs of the schools are met at the 
expense of the standard of living of the teachers they are secured at the 
expense of the efficiency of the teaching force ; and the loss to the children 
thus sustained is greater than any possible compensation therefor, for the 
fact remains that "the teacher is the school" and no added equipment can 
compensate for the loss of efficiency in a teaching body. 



Conclusion The foregoing facts and conditions show that the increases in salary, 

indicated in the suggested schedule below, are necessary to cover the increased 
cost of living and maintain the standard of living and efficiency of the teaching 
force. 

With the hope that it may receive the consideration this important subject 
merits from all who are interested in the welfare of the public schools, this 
Memorial is presented on behalf of the public school teachers of Chicago, not 
that they may profit undeservingly, but in order that they may be fittingly equip- 
ped "to help the child into education — into life." 

Respectfully submitted, 

TEACHERS' SALARY CONFERENCE, 

Serena H. Hayes, Chairman. 
Mary M. Abbe, Secretary. 
Chicago, Dec. 10, 1909. 



SCHEDULE FOR ELEMENTARY TEACHERS 

Proposed by Teachers' Salary Conference, Handel Hall, October 30, 190 9 
Consisting of two delegates from each of 235 of the 249 

Elementary Schools in Chicago 
Endorsed by signatures of 4834 Elementary Teachers 



Salary increases 

needed to 

maintain 

standard of 

living and 

efficiency 



PRIMARY 


GRAMMAR 


YEAR 


PRESENT 


PROPOSED 


PRESENT 


PROPOSED 


1st 


$ 650 


$ 650 


$ 650 


$ 650 


2d 


675 


700 


675 


700 


3d 


700 


750 


725 


750 


4th 


750 


800 


775 


800 


5th 


800 


850 


825 


850 


6th 


850 


900 


875 


900 


7th 


875 


950 


900 


950 


8th 


925 


1,000 


950 


1,000 


9th 


975 


1,100 


1,000 


1,100 


10th 


1,025 


1,200 


1,025 


1,200 


11th 


1,025 


1,300 


1,025 


1,300 


12th 


1,025 


1,400 


1,025 


1,400 


13th 


1,025 


1,500 


1,025 


1,500 



This schedule to be effective in 1910 up to and including the tenth year of 
service, that is, the maximum paid to any teacher in the service ten years or 
more to be $1,200 in 1910. Maximum in 1911 to be $1,300. Maximum in 1912 
to be $1,400. Maximum in 1913 to be $1,500. 



CHICAGO TEACHERS' FEDERATION 
844 Unity Bldg. 



Feb. 23, 1914. 
To the Elementary and Kindergarten 
Teachers: 

After years of strenuous work through 
its salary committees, the Chicago Teach- 
ers' Federation herewith reports a grati- 
fying measure of success in its efforts to 
secure increased remuneration for element- 
ary teachers including kindergartners. 

The schedule recommended by the Su- 
perintendent and adopted without a dis- 
senting vote by the Board of Education 
on Wednesday, February 18th, provides 
for a maximum of $1,500 and a shortening 
of the schedule from eleven years to ten; 
that is to say, the second year of the old 
schedule ($675 primary, $700 grammar) 
has been made the first year of the new; 
the third year of the old is the second 
year of the new, and so forth; and the 
eleventh year of the old has been in- 
creased $60 and made the tenth year of 
the new, which will be the maximum for 
1914 and 1915; this maximum is to be in- 
creased in 1916 and again in 1917, thereby 
securing the sum of $1,475 for primary 
and kindergarten teachers and $1,500 for 
grammar grade teachers. 

This schedule with the maximum to be- 
come effective one year later than planned 
differs in other important respects from 
the one submitted by the Teachers' Fed- 
eration and approved by the teachers. 

The difference most regretted by your 
committee and the officers of the Federa- 
tion is the distinction between the pri- 
mary and grammar grade teachers that 
will not be diminished or obliterated by 
the operation of this schedule. 



It must be remembered, however in this 
connection that the group of teachers de- 
nominated primary and kindergarten is 
almost double in number the group of 
grammar grade teachers. The size of any 
group is the determining factor in increas- 
ing the difficulties of securing any wage 
increase. 

To obtain even a small increase in pay 
for a large body of teachers means de- 
termined and persistent effort against 
fearful odds. This measure of justice once 
obtained should be hailed with joy and 
gratitude by those who are benefited, and 
they should determine on a continually in- 
creasing struggle that is to end only with 
the establishment of absolute justice. 

Three important things have been ac- 
complished, namely, the adoption of a 
schedule, the shortening of the time re- 
quired to reach the maximum, and an in- 
crease all along the line. 

This measure of justice could not have 
been obtained without the co-operation of 
a Superintendent alive to the best inter- 
ests of her teaching force or without the 
support of a Board of Education that is 
mindful of the great service rendered by 
its public school teachers. 

• To these and all others who have aided 
us in our efforts, we offer our grateful 
acknowledgments. 

This is only the beginning of what your 
committee, should you continue it, hopes 
to accomplish. 

It is firmly convinced that no service 
rendered in the school system exceeds in 
value that rendered by the primary and 
kindergarten teachers. It urges all teach- 
ers to give the highest order of service 
possible under present conditions, and it 
hopes by a consistent line of demonstra- 
tion and agitation to convince Board mem- 
bers and the Public that simple justice 



r 



demands the wiping out of any distinction 
in remuneration between these two groups. 
In order to strengthen our hands for 
this work, every primary and kindergar- 
ten teacher should at once declare her at- 
titude in this matter and become a part 
of the organized effort to bring about so 
desirable a result. 

Awaiting your further instruction, the 
above is respectfully submitted. 

SALAEY COMMITTEE. 
The Chicago Teachers' Federation. 
Wilma Ehinesmith, Chairman. 



f 



# 



CHICAGO TEACHERS' FEDERATION, 
844 Unity Building. 

On the reverse side is printed the Sched- 
ule for Elementary and Kindergarten 
teachers which was recommended by the 
Superintendent and adopted by the Board 
of Education on February IS, 1914. 

The teachers from grades one to seven 
will be paid upon this schedule, heads of 
branches, teachers of German, teachers of 
crippled children, teachers of sub-normal 
children, teachers of the deaf, teachers of 
the blind, teachers of the epileptic 
classes, teachers of the ward at the County 
Hospital, teachers of the detention home, 
teachers of correction of speech defects, 
will all be paid upon this new schedule 
with the bonus added which the Board 
has decided shall be paid each different 
class. The bonus to eighth grade teachers 
to be $50 in advance of the maximum for 
grammar grades. 

IDA Lr. M. FUESMAN, 

President. 
FEANCES E. HARDEN. 

Cor. Sec. 



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SALARY SCHEDULE 

For Elementary Teachers, Adopted by 

Board of Education January 26, 1910. 

To Take Effect January 1, 1910. 



PRIMARY GRAMMAR 

YEAR PRESENT PROPOSED PRESENT PROPOSED 

1st 650 650 650 650 

2nd 675 675 675 700 

3rd 700 725 725 750 

4th 750 775 775 800 

5th 800 825 825 850 

6th 850 875 875 900 

7th 875 925 900 950 



PROMOTIONAL 

1st 925 975 950 1000 

2nd 975 1025 1000 1050 

3rd 1025 1075 1025 1100 

EIGHTH GRADE HEAD ASSISTANT 
1st 925 975 1150 1175 

PROMOTIONAL 

1st 975 1025 1175 1200 

2nd 1025 1075 1200 1250 

3rd 1050 1125 1225 1300 

Teachers' Salary Conference, 

MARY M. ABBE, 

Secretary. 
SERENA H. HAYES, 

Chairman. 



January 27, 1910 



ff^Si^ ^ is^o 25.5 



I 



RESOLUTION 

Adopted by Teachers' Salary Conference, October 30, 1909 

Whereas, The increased resources of the Board of Education and the 
need of increases in the salaries of elementary teachers have been recognized 
by the President of the Board of Education in a recent communication to 
the School Management Committee; and 

Whereas, The Educational Fund, from which teachers' salaries are paid, 
has been increased through the efforts of the educational force of the Chicago 
Public Schools, in co-operation with representatives from the Board of Edu- 
cation, by enactment this year of a law transferring from the Educational to 
the Building Fund the cost of repairs, which in 1908 amounted to $575,619.41 
[Proceedings of Board of Education, March 29, 1909, page 836] ; and 

Whereas, The present is therefore an opportune time for presenting to the 
Board of Education the views of the elementary teachers on the subject of 
salary increase; therefore, be it 

Resolved, That a committee with full power to act be appointed from 
this Teachers' Salary Conference in session in Handel Hall, Saturday, Octo- 
ber 30, 1909, and that this committee be instructed to prepare, on behalf of 
the elementary teachers of the city, and present to the Board of Education, 
or the appropriate committee thereof, a suitable memorial asking for an 
increase in the salaries of the elementary teachers, proportionate to (a) the 
increase in the cost of living, and (b) the increased demands on the time» 
strength and ability of the teachers, due to the constantly advancing standards 
of education ; and be it further 

Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be transmitted to the Board 
of Education with request that it be referred to the committee of the Board 
having under consideration the increases in the elementary teachers' salaries. 

[The cost of repairs for the five years ending 1908 averaged $407,000 per 
year.] 



Increase of 117 Per Cent in 10 Years in Cost 
of Thanksgiving Dinner 



, Jfgh-toned manner. 

Long, long ago, In the "good old days" 

it la recorded that turkey could be. bought 

tor 12 cents a pound. Ten> yeara ago a 

Chicago department store advertised the 

.following bill of fare for $1.90: 

Nina-pound turkey. 

Enough plum puddlnjt for four. 

Mine* meat enough for three pl«r. 

Bunco of celery. 

Turkey seasoning. 

pound of parsley. 

Quart of cranberries. 

Pound of mixed nuts- 
Three pounds of sweet potatoes. 

Think of all that for $1.95. Do you know ^ 
What It Will cost to buy the same bill of far»< ' 
this year? Four dollars and twenty-flve I 



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? 



—Chicago Record-Herald, November 24,1909. 

The United States Government Reports 
on cost of living are based on wholesale 
prices. Hence the preceding charts are 
based on wholesale prices. 

The above clipping indicates the increase 
in retail prices of food from 1899 to 1909. 




" Teachers must be guarded from the debilitating 
effects of poverty and over economy" 

" We ask protection for the teachers because of the 
children whose guardians and exemplars they are." 






